Wilderness Therapy Programs

What Is Wilderness Therapy?

Wilderness therapy is a high-impact, adventure-based therapeutic intervention for adolescents and young adults struggling with psychological, emotional, behavioral, or learning problems, including substance abuse, depression, defiance, anger management, attention deficit, and others. Known for being physically and emotionally intense, wilderness therapy is highly effective in turning around the lives of troubled teens.

Based in the wilderness or a remote outdoor setting, wilderness therapy emphasizes experiential learning, natural consequences, and the development of healthy coping skills. Wilderness therapy is about more than spending a few weeks in the wilderness – rather, young people are removed from their familiar surroundings, encouraged, challenged, and given every opportunity to succeed. Wilderness therapy programs generally range in duration from four to eight weeks, and the groups are intentionally small, often with a 2:7 or 3:8 staff-to-camper ratio.

There are many different models of wilderness therapy. At some wilderness programs, students spend every day hiking, camping, and participating in wilderness expeditions, while others combine wilderness treks in the field with a few days living and engaging in therapeutic activities at a permanent base camp. Some wilderness programs also have particular specialties; for example, some concentrate on substance abuse and addiction while others focus on treating behavioral or learning issues.

Quality wilderness programs employ therapists with master’s and doctorate degrees with specialties in a broad range of areas, and field instructors with expertise working with at-risk youth. These programs are safe and highly effective, with many field staff holding wilderness first responder certifications (like a wilderness EMT) and various additional professional and safety certifications. Many programs follow stringent risk management and “best practices” policies that ensure certain quality and safety standards are routinely met.

Below are just a few examples of the opportunities that await students of wilderness therapy:

Improved Physical Health. Wilderness therapy is a safe place for young people to learn and practice life skills. First, they learn the fundamentals of taking care of themselves – preparing and eating balanced meals, sleeping eight hours a night, caring for their backpack and personal items, and attending to their personal hygiene. Students frequently report increased strength and endurance, as well as a decrease in anxiety, stress, and sleep disturbances.

Positive Peer Relationships. Wilderness therapy participants live and work as part of a group. Together with five to 10 peers facing the same struggles, students are presented with opportunities to develop leadership skills, critical thinking, teamwork, social skills, and strong, healthy bonds with other students and field instructors. The improvements that follow as a natural result of living as a group, including better communication, self-expression, listening, and decision-making, translate to family relationships at home.

Therapy. Upon arrival at a wilderness program, students complete a variety of assessments that are reviewed by licensed therapists, who then create an individualized treatment plan for each student. Students are assigned a primary therapist who they see individually and in groups each week. Therapists may specialize in cognitive-behavioral therapy, dialectical behavioral therapy, psychodynamics, or other therapeutic approaches. Building on a foundation of trust and openness, therapists become students’ allies in the healing process.

Self-Reflection. Spending time alone in the wilderness helps young people learn about themselves and develop a more realistic, positive perception of life. Students often report that wilderness therapy was the first time they sat down and truly thought about who they want to be and what they want their life to be like. Most wilderness programs rely on metaphors drawn from experiences in the wilderness to teach important life lessons, which can be generalized to situations at home.

Self-Confidence. Living outdoors is a challenge in itself. With guidance, support, and plenty of opportunities to excel, students are confronted with interpersonal conflicts, unfamiliar places, and challenging tasks. When students reach the end of their journey, they are filled with pride and confidence. They feel empowered knowing that if they can survive in the wilderness, they can adapt to any situation and cope with any conflict that comes their way.

Education. Students of wilderness therapy learn concrete skills, such as building fire with a bow drill, that give them a sense of accomplishment and self-efficacy. Many wilderness therapy programs also include an academic component that allows students to earn academic credit in various core subjects.

Improved Family Relationships. Many wilderness programs make parents and family members a critical part of treatment. At the same time the adolescent or young adult is learning new communication strategies and coping skills, parents are enhancing their skills so that change happens simultaneously and on all fronts. Parents are invited to participate in workshops, seminars, online courses, and family visits to learn more about wilderness therapy and its profound effect on their child.